New Member - Trouble getting ear lanced

Hi, Fuso started on 1 unit ProZinc insulin almost a week ago. Over the weekend I got the supplies to start testing at home. He's been a real trooper in being cooperative. However, I'm having trouble getting a blood sample from his ear. Is there a trick to doing this right or does it just take practice. He's been so good about all of it, I don't want to jinx it by making him hate the process.

Thanks in advance.

 

theres a section for tip on testing you can find here:
Hometesting Links and Tips
Are you using the lancing device? Many just use the lancet freehand I did also. You're lucky Fuso is cooperating. Mine never did. lol It took two of us!
I'm sure others will chime in on this so hold on for more replies.
And THANK YOU for deciding to home test!
jeanne

 

Bee was ok with it at first but now when she see me waiting on the bed with treats she is very difficult. Not getting the ear warm enough was my first mistake...i now massage her ear with my tiny microwaved rice sock and she hate it. I still sometime screw up and just let her go. I also didn't know about the bevel on the lancet. It's not easy but don't give up

 

Rub the ear and get it warmed up. Use a 26 or 28 gauge lancet. Three 30+ ones are too thin usually in the beginning.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Contour-Micr...=1590554480&sprefix=lanceing d,aps,149&sr=8-2

We use this lancing device, setting 3, together with the 30 gauge lancet. Always get enough blood, and no need to warm the ear.

 

The one thing that helped me the most was to be sure to prick on the very very outside edge of the ear toward the tip. You want the prick to be so close to the edge that you think you're going to (but won't actually) miss getting the ear. Feeding a very small treat just prior to pricking helps also.

 

Thanks folks. We had one good test this morning at +3 at 226. I think I'm not getting close enough to the edge. I'll try at +2 tonight and see if I can get that sweet spot on the edge. He's still so good about it. He doesn't like the sock with rice. He swipes at me when I've used that. And he's not a swiper either. Its frustrating, but I'm pretty calm about getting it done. I know that data matters and that it will help. Oh, and I have the ReliOn lancing device and see tht they are Ultra-Thin. So that may be an issue too.

 

skip the device (easier to aim without) and try 28 gauge lancets.

 

Yes, I also skip the device and just use the lancet, the thinnest one I can get.

 

I’m relatively new too. One thing I wish I’d thought of earlier is to have a small strong flashlight for lancing. It is both helpful when lancing sounds you can see and avoid the big veins, and helpful to shine on my cars dark ears so I can see when the tiniest blood drop starts to form so I can milk it and be ready with the meter.

Good luck. It gets easier. The first week I was a wreck.

 

Its still a battle to get teh readings with Fuso. But the few that have been successful seems to show he's trending down. I know from what I've read that doing the curve is important and consistent testing is the best way to know for sure. But I've gotten two readings this week before the PM, one 98 then 56.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...v-BgO1A6Iiv90R2GOuMH0vWW3BPTRzfjgt0rJ/pubhtml

 

I had a very hard time also. I commiserate !
Are you warming the ear first? Is it lack of cooperating on the patients part. What kind of treats are you giving? A treat is a must even if the test goes awry. You want Fuso to start associating treats with that poke.
Lets here from some more people about this subject ok?
KEEP UP THE GOOD FIGHT!
j

 

I am new here and doing curve is very important...but Fuso is in the green numbers...i think testing before shots is crucial so you don't put him in hypo. The ears poking is still a problem for me and massaging with the warm rice sock helped but when i can't get a drop i just let Bee go and try later. try both ears...don't push it too much and give treats.

 

I think i spent 2 weeks hitting the vein because i didn't know better. Remember to put some ointment on it and it will heal. I am still doing it sometimes.

 

That would be Neosporin OINTMENT not cream. In Canada I believe its called Polysporin (sp?)

 

I'm trying to be consistent on the am and pm. but the morning one is the worst. He really doesn't want me to do it then. I've been more successful lately to get the PM one. And maybe one other time during the day. Treats are always offered too. But he's not liking it. But onward.

 

I've been randomly warming his ears during the day so he gets used to that. Giving him lots of love and sing songy praise too. Treats too. He's just not liking it. I'm determined.

 

And thats what it takes. Loving determination.
Youre doing great. These are the things we do!
j.

 

I'm new too. I keep have trouble first thing in the morning. Sometimes I get blood and looks good on the strip, but then doesn't read. Then I have to try again and again. I know mine gets hungry and I get frustrated. Had to skip a couple of AMPS, but I keep trying. Just takes time. Up by outer ear is good.